Rotary take-ups for sewing machines



p 1955 F. w. BREUL 2,718,204

x ROTARY TAKE-UPS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jul 51, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l l l l IN VEN TOR. Fv'eczzfiic WBreul ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1955 F, w, BREUL ROTARY TAKE-UPS FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1952 .W/J m Fredvic WBu'ul 9 3 mm MB M MT L M WITNESS= ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1955 F. w. BREUL 2,718,204

ROTARY TAKE-UPS FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 31, 1952 INVENTOR.

Fredw'io W Breul W1TNESS= BY ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1955 ROTARY TAKE-UPS FOR SEWING MACHINES Fredric W. Bren], Bridgeport, Cnn., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 31, 1952, Serial N 0. 301,878

7 Claims. (Cl. 112--248) The present invention relates to sewing machines and has for a primary object to provide an improved rotary thread take-up therefor. More specifically it is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient and dependable but economical rotary take-up having two thread controlling portions, which take-up may be used, for example, with the two needle threads of a two needle sewing machine.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is here inafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art to readily understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the head end of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a blank of sheet metal after stamping from which the rotary take-up element of the present invention is formed.

Fig. 5 is a prespective view of the take-up element per se as finally formed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of the take-up element carrying disk.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated includes a bed 1 from the one end of which rises a standard 2 of a bracket-arm 3 terminating in a head 4 having an end wall 41. Journaled longitudinally of the bracket-arm 2, as in suitable bearings 5, is an arm or main-shaft 6 carrying at the one end the usual combined hand-wheel and belt pulley 7 which is adapted to be connected by a belt (not shown) to a source of power in the usual manner. Within the bracket-arm 3 directly over the hollow standard 2, the shaft 6 has secured thereto a groove pulley 8 that is operatively connected by a belt 9 to a similar pulley 10 fixed to a bed-shaft 11 journaled below the bed 1 in suitable bearings fitted into lugs 12 depending from the bed 1. From the above, it will be seen that when power is delivered to the pulley 7 rotation is imparted to the shafts 6 and 11.

The stitch-forming mechanism of the machine includes a pair of vertical axis rotary hooks 13 mounted upon vertical axis shafts (not shown) which are journaled in hook-saddles 14 and geared to the shaft 11 within the saddles 14 in such a manner that the hooks 13 will be rotated upon rotation of the shaft 11 at twice the speed of the shaft. Feed of the work past the stitch-forming mechanism is accomplished by a feed-dog 15 operated through the customary four-motion cycle. The feed-dog 15 is carried by a feed-bar 16 pivoted to the usual feedrocker (not shown). Feed-lift motions are imparted to the feed-bar 16 by the shaft 11 through an eccentric (not shown) embraced by the fork 17, or other suitable means. Feed-advance and -return motions are imparted to the feed-rocker by the shaft 11 through an adjustable eccentric 18 on the shaft and connected to the rocker by a link 19.

The above construction is similar to that disclosed in the U. S. patent of Parry, No. 2,410,790 to which reference may be had for a more detailed description thereof. It is not deemed necessary to further describe this structure in order to obtain a full understanding of the present invention. The adjustable eccentric 18 may be like that disclosed and claimed in the U. S. patent of Myers, No. 2,128,031.

Fixed to the end of the shaft 6 within the head 4 is a counterbalanced crank 20 having a crank pin 21 fixed thereto as by a set screw 21' which crank pin is encircled by the hub 22 at one end of a link 22' connected at the other end to a collar 23 that is fixed to a needle-bar 24 carrying a pair of needles 25 that are adapted to cooperate with the respective hooks 13 in the formation of stitches. The needle-bar 24 is journaled in a frame 26 pivoted in the head 4 on a fulcrum 27. Work-feeding movements are imparted to the needle-bar 24 in cooperation with the feeding movements of the feed-dog 15 by a link 28 fixed to and adapted to oscillate the fulcrum 27. The link 28 is pivotally connected to a pitman 29 that is integral with a strap 30 embracing the eccentric portion of an adjustable eccentric 31 which is substantially the same as the eccentric 18. The above construction is substantially the same as that disclosed in the U. S. patent of Zonis, No. 2,321,447, and it is not deemed necessary to explain all the details thereof since reference may be had to that patent for a further description.

As disclosed in the above referred to Parry Patent No. 2,410,790, the present machine is provided with means for simultaneously adjusting the eccentrics 18 and 31, which means comprises a shaft 32 journaled longitudinally of the bracket-arm 3 and having a lever terminating in a thumbpiece 33 fixed thereto for oscillating the same. The shaft 32 carries at one end a latch lever 34 adapted to engage in a depression 35 in one element of the eccentric 31, and at the other end a crank-arm that is pivoted to a link 36 that extends downwardly through the standard 2 to a point below the bed 1 Where it is connected to a crankarm on a shaft 37 journaled longitudinally of the bed 1. The shaft 37 carries a latch lever, similar to the latch lever 34, which engages in a depression in one element of the adjustable eccentric 18. Engaging the latch-levers in the respective depressions locks the adjustment element of the eccentrics against rotation relative to the respective shafts, whereupon rotation of the hand wheel 7 effects simultaneous adjustment of the eccentrics.

The take-up mechanism of the present machine, generally designated by the numeral 38, is of the rotary type and includes two similar elements '39 and 40 formed from a single stamping of sheet material bent intermediate its ends so that the elements 39 and 40 will lie in spaced substantially parallel planes. The take-up element 39 is secured to a disk 42 by means of screws 43 and pin 44 which extend through apertures 45 and 46 respectively provided in the element 39, which screws and pin also project through suitable apertures formed in a spacer 47 and into similar apertures 48 and 49 in the disk 42. The apertures 45 in the element 39 which receive the screws 43 are countersunk, and the cooperating apertures 48 in the disk 42 are threaded, whereby the take-up element 39 is fixed to the disk 42. The disk 42 is fitted into an appropriate aperture 50 in the end wall 41 and is in turn adjustably secured to the crank pin 21 in a manner similar to that disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Hale, Serial No. 261,806, filed December 15., 1951, now Patent No. 2,686,486, dated August 17, 1954, to which reference may be had for a complete description thereof. Briefly, however, the crank-pin 21 is provided with an enlarged head 51 including an arcuate tang 52 that is adapted to fit into and be slidable relative to a cooperating arcuate slot 53' in the disk 42. A plate 54 which receives screws 55 in countersunk apertures, which screws are threaded into suitable tapped holes in the tang 52, serves to clamp the disk 42 to the head 51 of the pin 21.

To further support the take-up mechanism 38, the element 40 is fixed to a disk 56 which is in turn fixed to the enlarged head 57 of a stud 58 journaled in anarm 59 that is secured tothe head 4 of the machine as by screws 60 that extend through an enlarged lower portion of the arm and are threaded into the head 4. The element 40.

is secured to the disk 56 by screws 61 that extend through suitable countersunk apertures in the disk 56, through apertures ina spacer 62', and are threaded into tapped holes 63 in theelement 40-. The disk 56 is fixed to the head 57 of the stud 58, as by screws 64, that extend through countersunk holes in the disk 56 and are threaded into head 57. An aperture 65 is provided in the disk 56 together with corresponding apertures 66 in the take-up elements 39 and 40 to permit access to the screws 55, whereby angular adjustment of the take-up 38 relative to the crank-pin 21 may be made to adjust timing of the take-up action.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the take-up member 38 is formed from a single stamping from sheet material, as 1 illustrated in Fig. 6, bent into appropriate shape as illustrated in Fig. 7. The present invention is directed to an improvement in the take-up disclosed in the copending Van Wagener et al. application Serial No. 189,528, filed October 11, 1950 (now Patent No. 2,636,464, April 28, 1953), and specifically relates to a rotary take-up mecha nism which is adapted to simultaneously control two thread limbs.

Each of the elements 39 and 4%) includes a body portion 67 having a spoke-like radially projecting portion which, to reduce the weight thereof, is formed as two arms 68 and 69 having thread controlling edges 70 and 71 respectively and connected at their ends opposite the bodyportion by a bridge piece 72 of a compound planar bridge portion 73. The blank as shown in Fig. 4 is bent at right angles along lines at the free ends of the arms 68 and 69 adjacent the bridge pieces 72 so that the elements 39 and 40 will lie in spaced substantially parallel planes, each of the elements being at a right angle to the bridge pieces 72. It will be noted that the arms adjacent the bend line are formed with outwardly offset portions which cooperate with the bridge pieces to form thread slots or guides. Extending from the leading edge of the bridge portion 73 is a thread confining finger 74 which is bent into a position substantially parallel to and in the space between the elements 39 and 4t), and serves to divide this space into two thread compartments 75 and 76, see Figs. 3 and 6. Extending from the trailing edge of the bridge pieces 72 are thread confining tails 77. There is also provided a thread guard 78 upon each of the body portions of the elements 39 and 40 and an outwardly projecting thread-reversing pointed or tapered portion 79 the point of which is received in apertures 80 and 81 in the disks 42 and 56 respectively and thus designed to transfer the thread limb from the one side of the body portion 67' to the other.

Each of the take-up elements 39 and 40' which have been briefly described above as to structure, are individually similar to take-up mechanism disclosed in the above mentioned application of Van Wagener et al. to which reference may be had for a more complete description of the structural details thereof and the thread controlling and handling characteristics thereof.

As is common in. the use of rotary take-ups, there is provided a thread cutter 82 adjacent each of the take-up ele- 4 ments.. The thread cutters normally lie outside the path of travel of the thread limbs and have no effect upon the thread movements. However, in the event of thread breakage or other malfunction which would cause the thread to wind or wrap on the take-up, the change in the thread lead to and from the take-up element brings the thread limb into a path that crosses the cutter which immediately severs the thread from the supply and prevents further winding.

It will be understood that suitable guards Will be provided to prevent the operator from accidentally contacting the rotating elements. In the disclosed machine there is illustrated a ring guard 83 that encircles the take-up generally, which is secured to the arm 69 by screws 84, as seen in Fig. 2. A cover member, which has been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity, is adapted to overlie the exposed end of the machine.

In operation, each of the take-up elements 39 and 40 will individually perform a take-up action and slackthread controlling action upon a limb of a thread presented thereto, which actions will be substantially in the manner as fully described in the aforementioned patent application of Van Wagener et al., Serial No. 189,528. The take-up elements may be threaded merely by passing the respective thread limbs through the openings between the guard 83 and end wall 41, and between the guard 83 and the supporting arm 59 and cover member, if provided. The one limb will assume a position between the take-up element 39 and the disk 42, while the other limb will assume a position between the element 40 and disk 56. Rotation of the parts will cause the thread limbs to move to their properly threaded positions.

From the above it will be seen that there has been provided a rotary take-up that is adapted to operate simultaneously upon two thread limbs, effecting a take-up action and slack-thread controlling action upon each, which take-up can be readily formed by mass-production methods of manufacture and thus be made relatively cheaply. It will also be seen that, aside from producing an inexpensive take-up element, the present invention provides one which will operate dependably and efliciently.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1'. In a sewing machine, a rotary take-up formed from a single blank of sheet material, said take-up comprising two thread take-up elements, each of said elements being shaped to individually perform, upon rotation thereof, take-up and slack-thread controlling actions upon a thread-limb presented thereto, said elements being bent from said blank to lie opposite each other in spaced substantially parallel planes, and a thread-confining member bent to lie in the space between said elements in spaced substantially parallel relationship thereto.

2. In a sewing machine, a rotary take-up formed from a single blank of sheet material, said take-up comprising a bridge portion, two thread take-up elements bent from said bridge portion to lie opposite each other in spaced substantially parallel planes, each of said elements being shaped to individually perform, upon rotation thereof, take-up and slack-thread controlling actions upon a thread limb presented thereto, and a thread-confining member bent to lie in the space between said elements in spaced substantially parallel relationship thereto.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which each of said elements include a body-portion having a substantially radially projecting spoke-like portion provided with thread-controlling edges, and in which said bridge portion and said elements are connected at the free ends of said spoke-like portion.

4. In a sewing machine having a bracket-arm terminating in a head and a uniformly rotating shaft journaled longitudinally within the bracket-arm and terminating at one end within the head, a take-up secured to one end of said shaft for rotation therewith, said take-up being formed from a single blank of sheet material and comprising two thread take-up elements each shaped to individually perform upon rotation thereof, a take-up and a slack-thread controlling action upon a thread limb presented thereto, said elements being bent from said blank to lie oppositely in spaced substantially parallel planes, and a thread confining member bent from said blank to lie in the space between said elements in spaced substantially parallel relationship thereto.

5. The combination of claim 4 provided with an upstanding supporting arm fixed to said head, a stud freely journaled in said arm on an axis in line with the axis of said shaft, a disk secured to said stud, a disk adjustably secured to one end of said shaft for rotation therewith, and said elements being fixed to said disks.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which each of said disks is provided with an aperture and each of said elements includes a body portion having a tapered threadreversing portion bent out of the plane of said body portion in the direction of the adjacent disk and extending into the aperture formed in said disks.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which each of said body portions further includes a substantially radially projecting spoke-like portion provided with thread-controlling edges, and a bridge-portion connecting said spokelike portions adjacent their free ends and lying at 'substantially a right angle to said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

